Corkscrew.



No. 672,796. Patented Apr. 23, I901. J., R. MURPHY.

GDRKSBREW.

' (Application flIed Feb. Q, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Shanks-Sheet .I.

WITNESSES: W W

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No. 672 ,796. Patented Apr. 23, MN. J. R. MURPHY.

COBKSCREW.

(Application filed Fan 2, 1901.)

(No Model.) I

2 Shets-$heat 2.

J WITL] E '5 5 E 5- PATENT FFICE.

JOHN R. MURPHY, OF HARVARD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CORKSCREW.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,796, dated April 23, 1901.

- Application filed February 2, 1901. Serial No- 45,782. (No model.)

5 of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corkscrews, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that description of Corkscrews which, in addition to the cork-extracting screw, are provided with means for cutting or breaking the cork-holding wires and removing a metal seal-cap from a bottle. In these corkscrews as hitherto constructed the shank is provided with a hollow bellshaped head adapted to fit down upon the top of a bottle while the cork is being withdrawn therefrom, said head being provided at its bottom with a downwardly-projecting blade or cutter for breaking or cutting the wiring of the cork and at its top with a laterally-extending projection having a hook on its lower face adapted to catch under the edge of the seal-cap of a bottle to remove the same, a portion of the side of the ring which forms the bottom of the head being necessarily cut away to enable the hook to reach and engage the edge of the seal-cap.

My invention has for its object to simplify and improve the construction of this class of corkscrews; and it consists in providing the head which is mounted on the shank of the corkscrew with a single spur or tooth projecting upward from its lower portion and so arranged that it will perform all of the functions heretofore requiring two separate projections, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved corkscrew. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the corkscrewhead. Fig. 3 isa plan view of the bottom of the same. Fig. 4c is a view illustrating the manner in which the corkscrew is used to break the wiring over a bottle-cork. Fig. 5 is a view showing the corkscrew when used to remove a. metal seal-cap from a bottle. Figs. 6 and 7 are views illustrating a modification in the shape of the head, Fig. 6 showing the device when used to break the wire over a cork and Fig. 7 showing the device when is position to remove a metal seal-cap from a bottle.

l In the said drawings, A represents the shank or spindle of a corkscrew provided, as usual, with a screw portion 1) and at its upper end with a cross-bar or handle 0. Upon the shank A is mounted to swivel thereon a hollow bell-shaped head B, consisting of a complete ring 10, forming its bottom, a collar or upper portion 12, and two connecting-arms 14 14, extending from the collar 12 to the ring 10, the head thus formed being adapted to fit down upon the top of a bottle while the screw 6 is turned into the cork, which as the said screw is still further turned is drawn up into the head in the usual well-known manner.

The swiveling head B is held in place upon the shank A by a shoulder 01 thereon on one side and a removable pin 6 on the other side.

Projecting upwardly from the upper face of the ring or bottom 10 of the head B is a single pointed spur or tooth f, which is slightly inclined inward or toward the shank A and is used for breaking the wire g from a bottleneck D when inserted beneath said wire, as shown in Fig. 4., the Lower edge of the ring 10 then resting on the edge of the cork or the bottle-neck, which forms a fulcrum for the shank A as it is raised to cause the projection fto break the wire, the shank A forming an operating-lever.

When the implement is to be used to remove a metal seal-cap h from the top of a bottle, the toothfis inserted under the edge of the cap, as shown in Fig. 5, when the edge of the collar or upper portion 12 of the head B will rest on the top of the cap h, which forms a fulcrum for the shank A as it is depressed to cause the toothf to lift the cap.

The above-described single tooth or projection arranged to extend upwardly from the upper face of the lower portion of the head thus performs all the functions hitherto requiring two separate projections, while it is out of the way and leaves the head with a smooth surface, which is not the case when the head is provided with downwardly and laterally extending projections, as heretofore, which are liable to catch and engage objects with which they may come into contact. Furthermore, the ring 10, which forms the bottom of the head, does not require to be cut away, thus leaving it with a smooth continuous surface, as shown in Fig. 3.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modification of my invention, in which the head consists of a solid disk 20, immovably secured uponthe shank A by means of a pin is passing through its collar or upper portion, as shown. At the outer edge of the upper face of the disk 20 is an upwardly-projecting spur or tooth f, which operates in precisely'the same manner as the toothf on the hollow bell-shaped head B, previously described, either in breaking a wire, as shown in Fig. 6, or in lifting a metal sealcap, as shown in Fig. 7. The under face of the disk 20 is provided with'radial ratchetteeth 21, which just before the screw has fully entered the cork engage its upper surface and take a firm hold upon the same to enable the cork to be twisted axially in the operation of extracting it from the bottle.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In acorkscrew, the combination with the shank provided with a screw portion and an operating-handle, of a head mounted on said shankand provided with a single spur or tooth projecting upwardly from its lower portion and acting both as a wire-breaker and to remove a metal seal-cap from a bottle, substantially as described. a

2. In a corkscrew, the combination with the shank provided withia screw portion and an operating-handle, of a swiveling hollow bellshaped head mounted on said shank and having an unbroken ring-shaped lower portion provided on its upper face with a single upwardly-projecting spur or tooth adapted for use, both as a wire-breaker and to remove a metal seal-cap from a bottle, substantially as described.

Witness my hand'this 30th-dayofJanuary, A. D. 1901.

JOHN R. MURPHY.

In presence of P. E. TESCHEMAOHER, LILLIAN I. BASFORD. 

